GEORGE TOWN, June 20 — The DAP today urged the police to shape up and focus on its crime-fighting duties, citing concerns over the state of security here that saw Malaysia listed as second place behind Mexico in a global study on security.

“Only the drug-ridden country of Mexico is considered more dangerous than Malaysia,” DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said in a statement.

Travel advisories issued by countries such as the United States, Britain and Germany against Malaysia also confirmed the findings of the global report, he added.

Lim was referring to the Unisys Security Index 2014 Report, which ranked Malaysia second among 12 countries surveyed for their security conditions.

The Unisys Security Index is a global study conducted to gauge the attitudes and perceptions of consumers on a wide-range of security-related issues including national security, financial security, internet security and personal security.

The polls conducted nationally on 946 people between March 14 and 27, found a staggering jump in the overall security index in Malaysia from 160 points in 2008 to 198 points this year.

Lim said this landed Malaysia at second place, just behind Mexico (203), where drug cartels and organised crime is prolific.

He pointed out that according to Unisys, the global average score is 143, while anything exceeding 150 is considered a serious concern.

Lim heaped blame on the police for allegedly failing to perform their duty to combat crime and ensure safety and security for Malaysians, especially in light of the recent spate of kidnappings in Sabah.

“Even Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz complained that the recent kidnapping cases in Sabah have had more impact on the tourism industry than the disappearance of the MH370 jetliner in March,” he said.

The Penang lawmaker demanded that police stop being used as political weapons against Barisan Nasional’s (BN) political opponents, especially Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders.

“PR leaders are not criminals but we are only exercising our democratic right to bring about peaceful change of government through general elections,” he said.

He reminded the police that a drop in the crime index remains a mere statistic that would count for nothing if the people do not feel safe from crime.

He urged the police to evaluate the 2014 Unisys Security Index and take remedial steps immediately.

“The police should not be in denial that the crime situation is improving when there are so many people who become victims of crime,” he said.